With God, call it possible. After all, Jesus came to earth, bringing heavenly possibilities with Him.

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

(Luke 1:37 KJV)

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Recently, I read about Joshua. Like a bold reg flag waving and whipping in the wind, the Israelites’ march around Jericho gathered my attention. Here’s why:

The Lord spoke His promise.

Joshua ran with that promise, leading the Israelites accordingly.

After gathering the promise and instruction, they implimented the process. Because marching for 7 days, once around the city 1 time each for 6 days and 7 times the final day, IS a process. It’s not an instantaneous, click-your-fingers God move.

Amid the process, however, the promise remained.

It simmered all along. And even though that promise came to fruition after a period of time and through a process (work by those trusting God), it came because God was faithful to fulfill His promise.

The part I love most is summed up simply in Joshua 6:27.

“So the LORD was with Joshua,

and his reputation spread throughout the land.”

(Josh. 6:27 NLT)

Joshua’s reputation spread throughout the land. Maybe it sounded like this:

“Did you hear what Joshua did?”

“Look how Joshua serves the Lord.”

“Did you hear how those walls crumbled straight down?!”

“He’s quite the leader, that Joshua.”

But behind the chatter?

The LORD enabled Joshua to commence and complete the tasks. He offered the promise; He brought victory.

The stellar leadership? It happened because of the LORD.

The promise rose because of the LORD.

The walls crumbled because of the LORD.

The “new” Joshua and Israel experienced? It came straight from Above.

Truly, it’s all about the Lord.

And your life is about Him, too.

It’s a new year. You might be looking for a “new you”, a resolution of the common type. Or, maybe last year proved horrendous and you want something more.

Why not look for transformation from the One whose muscle makes possiblity happen? Make 2019 all about God. Grab His promises and stand solid, friend.

I’m convinced there’s one place to start a new year’s transformation that will transition into a whole life version: in His presence.

Start with this FREE Download

Come into His presence with His word. Sail into the new year with your copy of I AM Enough…, truth and declarations to squelch the voice of “not enough.”

Feelings of inadequacy is the #1 battle my readers face. I’ve face the ugly wrestle, too. But with God we overcome and find a solid stance in freedom. I am a walking testimony of this and desire you to be one, too.

This free, new resource, is located in the Subscriber Library. It’s a sheet of truth, affirmations, and prayers based on the Word of God. Each one listed will help you identify yourself with the solid stance of Jesus Christ–not fleeting feelings, wobbly circumstances, or the inaccurate labels others paste on us.

Not a subscriber? No problem. Simply sign up here. You’ll receive access to this library download as well as many other faith-building printables. (Watch the spam folder, however, as emails land there from time to time.) You’ll also receive weekly updates and “3”, the family connection newsletter. It’s a place where we get a little more personal and share tips like this recent iphone shortcut.

Here are 3 additional New Year, New You suggestions to sit in His presence:

Prayer

Why not simply sit in the quiet with Him? Converse. Listen.

Here’s a prayer I offer regularly, words that somehow usher a heart straight into His presence. God answers every.single.time. Why not begin here for true transformation in 2019?

Lord,

Show me my heart.

God alone knows the struggles and lies hiding in our heart. Why not go to the One who offers true transformation?

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.”

(PS 19:14 WEB)

Once I pray that prayer and wait His answer (which comes in a matter of days sometimes, months other times), then the process begins. God unveils that which defies. It’s like finding Jericho on a map. Then, He gives direction on how to march and watch the walls fall.

In that place, victory waves its flag.

“Give your people what their actions deserve, for you alone know each human heart.” (2 Chron. 6:30b WEB)

Bible Reading Plan

There’s a second place that settles us among the utterances of God Almighty, opportunity He offers in the pages of His Word. One way to dig into these love letters from the Almighty is a Bible Reading Plan like the free ones offered here.

Various versions of the Bible await. I enjoy the NLT, WEB, NIV, MSG, and AMP regularly, and sqeak a few others in from time to time. If you’re looking for a Bible that allows you to read God’s powerful word in one year, try this version:

Memory Verses

A third way? Memorizing scripture. It sets truth solidly within, allowing us to recall truth when evil dangles questions.

Don’t miss this opportunity to join us as we secure truth for the uncertainties deception spins. We’re answering the age-old question:

Who AM I?

Join us here at KristiWoods.net as we memorize scriptures in 2019 securing and reminding us of our identity in Christ. It’s simple. Jump in here and the posts will arrive automatically in your inbox each 1st and 3rd Tuesday, except January’s verses which will post on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday. (Along with emails containing the memory verses, KristiWoods.net subscribers also receive weekly encouragement, access to the Subscriber-Only Library, and “3”, our monthly “Family” newsletter. Yay!)

So there you have it, friend. Grab a hold of Joshua while heading into this year. Let’s stay in the presence of the Almighty–you encouraging me and me you–as we work through those promises and processes. Let’s open our Bible, too, allowing His truth to imprint our heart.

Do you like a good, meat-worthy, faith-building post–one that helps keep eyes on Jesus?

Meeeee too.

Several writer friends/Jesus girls kindly responded to a “popular post” question I posed recently. Many of their posts exclaim His strength, His healing, His hope.

And hope is one thing I read about this week in my own Bible time. I’ve been immersed in the Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT), settling among the gospels during Christmas. One thing I noticed about Jesus’ and John’s births is that our God doesn’t discriminate. And that’s hope.

He chose an older woman to birth John, a young, unmarried version for Jesus. And none of the facts relating to either pregnancy and subsequent birth made sense. Yet, in the grand scheme, the seemingly senseless facts created a perfect picture.

Our God accepts the young and the old, male and female. He refuses condemnation thanks to Jesus Christ–the hope of the world. What a gift!

It is my prayer that we enjoy Jesus not only in this Christmas season but throughout the year.

And the below links–some from 2018, others from previous years–rush to help us.

Their authors, some who shared their hearts in this Envy Round Table series last year plus a few other beautiful encouragers, keep ministry and Jesus central. And how beautiful stands a life–theirs, yours, and mine–when centered on Jesus Christ.

If I may set a challenge… Share several of these posts with friends. Grab the ones that grab you then pin ’em on Pinterest. Email or message them. Somehow, share them with the body of Christ or a “searcher.”

Bring a friend to the doors so they, too, can enter and eat of the fruit the Lord offers within.

May 2019 be our strongest year yet walking in faith. And as always, may God Almighty gather 100% of the glory.

Father, we are Yours.

As we celebrate Christmas soon then wave goodbye to 2018, let’s recap these popular posts:

Coming January 8th….

(And remember, by signing up, you’ll receive memory verses every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month as well as regular email updates, access to the Subscriber-Only libraray, and “3”, our monthly Family Newsletter.)

Each December during my younger years, Mom whipped up a batch of sugar cookie dough. Man, she made THE BEST Christmas cookies! I suspect the touch of lemon somehow worked magic.

We rolled out a clump of dough, positioned cookie cutters “just right”–to fit as many as possible in one roll-out (because who needs extra work, right?!), then we baked the little guys till their edges cried, “Crisp!” Once those bits of sweetness cooled, we added the sugary wonderland of colored icing and dancing sprinkles.

Oh.my.heavenly.sweet tooth.word.

I popped one or two–okay, a FEW!–in my mouth. (And that’s probably why my weight mocks me today.) A treat like that dances in the mouth.

Scrumptious!

The Other Day

I thought about cookies and those cookie cutters just the other day. But thoughts swirling around them didn’t include the scrumptious or delectable. (Does a 9-year old call anything “delectable”? Probably not, but you get the picture.) No, it carried a tinge of hurt.

In a situation recently, I felt like a glob of dough, small and pitiful, staring up at the sharp edges of a giant, mean ‘ole cookie cutter. The metal baking gadget eyed me, I’m certain. (It probably even grunted and released puffs of smoke from its nostrils…or maybe that’s an imagination simply going wild.) Then, it set its borders–fencing in a select piece, calling me it its own–then the blasted thing press downward, slicing straight through…

I’d been left out.

Coralled and cut by the sharp edges of, What about me? Am I not important enough?

Sigh.

It’s never fun when the switch flips from “you” to “not you.” It feels as though we’ve been cut straight out of the picture, doesn’t it?

And when we’ve given our time, effort, money, emotions–whatever–oh, friend…

Sigh #2.

Call it a form of rejection. Of being tossed aside, unwanted, maybe even–or simply–forgotten.

Whatever its name, it hurts. It hurts the ego. It hurts the heart. It hurts relationships. And sometimes, it hurts faith.

As I sat in the chair, crossing my legs, then uncrossing them again, shifting from one hip to the other, I whimpered a silent cry for help.

“Lord, why am I feeling this way?”

“Left out” and “not important enough” caught me off-guard. Wisdom from God, a verse I’ve studied in detail–and how “funny” its imminent need–assured those emotions proved mine to corral.

For goodness sake, I knew the person didn’t leave me out intentionally. Even if they had, where was my hope? Did I really need their assurance or reassurance for my security? Why was this misunderstanding such a big batch of internal hoopla?

My head knew I shouldn’t get upset. But in all honesty, I wrestled.

Emotions cut and clawed in my heart, assuring a sprint elsewhere, anger boiling over, a grudge held like a big batch of sucked in air, or an offer of a solid slice of silent treatment–whether in small form or large fashion–presented safe escape.

But none did. God’s Word assures differently.

Opportunity

This place in which we feel corralled and cut straight to the core is not a foothold for rejection–it doesn’t have to be, at least. The choice remains ours. What will we do with these emotions and feelings that flare?

Call it opportunity, a heart issue God desires to heal.

Consider it maturity.

As we flex muscles of faith versus feelings, we find healing. We find God.

Start Here

Then search Him, rest in Him, and wait on Him until our Father makes clear the answer.

Because by golly, when we feel left out, we’re setting hope in people–not man.

As the words Edward Mote scribbled, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

(For a little soothing music, click here.)

He is our meter, our cookie cutter of the scrumptious kind. He is the heavenly ever after.

Friend, a life wrapped in rejection ain’t our gig. God deemed us accepted.

So refuse offense, okay?

Hold forgiveness close.

And let faith lead the way.

So if you’re feeling left out….

Start with God, not the gut. Journey with truth, not feelings running rampant.

Remember, when you are drawn, you are not cut away. You may be set apart, but in Christ, you, my friend, are accepted.

Halloween hits this week.

So does the 3rd anniversary of my father’s ascent to heaven. (Read more about the journey beyond his death here or here.)

I loved Halloween as a kid because of the candy. I didn’t trust it as an adult. Three years ago it became a bad taste in my mouth. After all, who desires to mark a loved one’s death date on a day of ghouls and goblins? But love conquers all. And my dad’s assurance to me of his salvation brought hope that neither death or Halloween could hinder.

So it’s Halloween, and I’d love to shed the light on hope.

If you died tonight, would you land in heaven or hell? Why?

Won’t you allow Jesus to save you from your sins today? What better anniversary? He’s the key to heaven, to an eternity of love and goodness. What better way to spend Halloween then by spreading light amid the darkness?

If He’s drawing you, if life isn’t going well, won’t you come close? If something seems missing, won’t you allow Him to fill it? Scroll to the bottom of this page. (I cringe a bit typing that, but since we’re not face-to-face…) Offer God your prayer if you’re ready of heaven’s assurance, if you’d like eternal forgiveness for your sins. One name is your key: Jesus.